Nobody knows what to do with their body in front of a camera, and that is fine — posing is the photographer’s job, not yours. But walking into a session knowing the handful of poses that consistently work makes the first ten minutes far less awkward. These are the ones we coach people through every day at our Vancouver studio, and why each works.
The foundation: angle your body, square your face
Standing square to the camera reads like a passport photo. Turn your body 20–30 degrees away from the lens, then bring your face back toward the camera. This slims the shoulders, creates a natural line, and works for almost everyone. It is the default we start nearly every session with.
Five poses that consistently work
1. The lean-in
Shift your weight to your front foot and lean an inch or two toward the camera. It sounds trivial; it photographs as engagement. Leaning back, even slightly, reads as distant.
2. Arms crossed — done right
The most requested executive pose. The trick is keeping the arms low and loose rather than clamped, shoulders down, with the body still angled. Clamped-tight arms look defensive; relaxed ones look confident.
3. The chin push
Push your chin slightly forward and down — “like a turtle, then tilt” is how we coach it. It feels ridiculous and looks fantastic: it defines the jawline on every face shape and eliminates the double-chin effect cameras invent.
4. Hands in pockets (thumbs out)
For three-quarter and environmental shots. Full hands-in-pockets looks slouchy; thumb hooked outside the pocket keeps the arms relaxed without hiding them.
5. The seated forward lean
Seated on a stool, elbows toward knees, leaning into the lens. It naturally rounds shoulders forward and creates the most approachable frame in the set — a favourite for realtors, consultants and anyone client-facing.
Expressions: the other half of the pose
- The almost-smile. A closed-mouth expression with lifted eyes suits law, finance and leadership. Think “I know something good” rather than “say cheese.”
- The genuine laugh. We will make you actually laugh, then catch the settle right after — that half-second is where natural smiles live.
- Squinch, don’t stare. A slight narrowing of the lower eyelids reads as confidence; wide-open eyes read as surprise.
Poses to avoid
- The head tilt overdone. A few degrees is warmth; more is a shampoo ad.
- Shoulders at your ears. The number-one tension tell. We watch for it constantly — exhale and let them drop.
- The over-the-shoulder look. Rarely survives contact with a corporate website.
You will see every pose as we shoot it
Our studio shoots fully tethered: each frame appears on a large monitor the moment it is taken, so you can see exactly what the lean, the chin push and the almost-smile are doing — and adjust in real time instead of hoping. That feedback loop is why first-timers leave with photos they like. See the results in our headshot examples, plan your outfit with what to wear for headshots, or book a session at our downtown Vancouver studio.
